Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might not be set on Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas, but he’s sure the veteran coach won’t end up in Chicago. 

Sources told ESPN Tuesday the Cowboys denied the Bears permission to interview McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy. The news comes as McCarthy’s contract with the Cowboys is due to expire next week. 

The Cowboys closed out their season with a loss to the Washington Commanders Sunday. After the game, Jones praised McCarthy but stopped short of confirming McCarthy would return next season. 

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"Mike’s one of the best coaches that I think there is. He was made to coach here. He’s done absolutely nothing to diminish my opinion of him as a coach," Jones said, adding he hasn’t decided on an extension. 

"That’s what the next few days and weeks are about now."

McCarthy has expressed his desire to return, saying that, despite a 7-10 record this season, he has "a lot of confidence in myself as a head coach." 

COWBOYS' JERRY JONES HAS NO INTEREST IN GIVING UP GM ROLE: 'I BOUGHT AN OCCUPATION'

"​​All those things go into these decisions of whether you originally get the job or continuing to move forward. So, I’m definitely in position with Jerry to move forward. I mean, there’s no question about that in my mind."

McCarthy has a 49-35 record in Dallas. Before this season, he led the Cowboys to the playoffs with a 12-5 record three straight seasons. 

The Bears are in a desperate hunt to replace Matt Eberflus, who was fired a day after Chicago's Thanksgiving Day loss in Detroit. It marked the first time in franchise history a head coach was fired midseason, a telling move for a struggling team. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was spotted in an episode of "Landman" on Paramount+, and his scene in a hospital alongside Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thornton has many believing he was not acting as he got very emotional. 

"Landman," a show about oil tycoons in Texas, saw Jones make a cameo during the ninth episode when he delivered a heartfelt speech to Jon Hamm’s character, who was in a hospital bed. 

It makes sense that Jones made an appearance considering his own wealth was built through the oil business and real estate before purchasing the Cowboys. 

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"America’s Team" is what pulled Jones’ heartstrings, though, as he was telling Hamm’s character why he wanted to buy the team in the first place. 

"I’m not saying I’ve done anything right, but I made my mind up a long time ago I was gonna work with my kids," Jones says to begin his monologue. "They’re involved in everything. They’re involved in my leasing, oil and gas, real estate. 

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"So, when I got the Cowboys, I got it so that we could all work together. I thought I was doing it for them. But the one that got the most out of it was me."

After Jones tells Hamm’s character that he believes the sickness he is dealing with will not take him to the next life, the Cowboys owner got emotional talking about his own family. 

"I just know it’s not gonna be this time, but you’re gonna be sitting here sometime in the future, laying here sometime in the future and this room’s gonna be full of your business associates and the people you’ve worked with all your life. More than likely, your children and family are going to be there because they’re your children and your family," Jones said. "But you could have them there because they’re the people you spent your life with, you worked with, you fell down with, you got up with.

"Not just Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s who you want to be with. So, when that comes like this, it’s a celebration of your life and you’re not wishing you had spent a little more time seeing a few more suns come up. That’s the trick.

"I’m pretty proud of them Cowboys. I’m pretty proud of the stuff we’ve done in oil and gas. It pales in comparison to how proud I am to have lived my life working with my kids."

Jones’ journey in oil and gas started with his company in Arkansas, named Jones Oil and Land Lease, which boomed. Jones also bought into Comstock Resources, which also dealt with oil and gas exploration. Today, Jones and his family are the largest shareholders of Comstock Resources Inc.

With the money he now had, Jones bought the Cowboys on Feb. 25, 1989 for $140 million, and it has been his pride and joy ever since. Like Jones says in the speech, his children play a huge part in the Cowboys’ operations. 

Jones continues to run the team as owner, president and general manager, the last of the titles he has been criticized for in recent seasons, but will not be giving up anytime soon. 

His son Stephen is chief operating officer, director of player personnel and co-owner. His daughter Charlotte is chief brand officer and co-owner. Finally, Jerry Jr. is chief sales and marketing officer and co-owner. 

Though it may have been on a show, the 82-year-old Jones clearly loves that his Cowboys have become a family affair, and family is something he certainly does not take for granted. 

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A Dallas Cowboys cheerleader has shared the apology she received from kicker Brandon Aubrey after he drilled her in the back of the head with a ball during the first half of Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders.  

Michelle Siemienowski was standing on the sidelines when Aubrey’s kick went out of bounds near the 10-yard line at AT&T Stadium. 

Despite a cameraman’s attempts to deflect the ball, it hit Siemienowski in the back of the head, knocking her over. 

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She quickly stood up as her teammates checked on her. The broadcast caught Siemienowski smiling after the incident. 

She took to social media Monday to share that she was "fine," and to thank everyone for checking in. She also shared with fans a note that Aubrey wrote to her apologizing. 

"This past 24 hours has been a whirlwind! I got a ton of messages and I wanted to thank you all for checking in and for your kind words. I am all okay, so no need to worry," she wrote in a post on her Instagram Stories. 

COWBOYS CHEERLEADER DRILLED IN HEAD BY KICKOFF MISHAP IN FINAL GAME OF SEASON

"Also… Thank you [Aubrey] for this apology note! I was told he wanted to come find me on the field after the incident, but unfortunately I kept moving around on the field. He was so kind to write me a note anyways! No hard feelings here! And now I have a souvenir for my last game of my rookie season!" 

The note from Aubrey read, "Michelle, so sorry about hitting you on (kickoff)! Hope you are doing well! Love watching y’all!" 

Despite Sunday’s loss to the Commanders and the mishap on kickoff, Aubrey set a record with 40 field goals this season to become just the fifth kicker in NFL history with at least 40 field goals. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Jerry Jones has been the owner, president and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys since he bought the team in 1989.

The shrewd moves he made in the 1990s allowed the team to win three Super Bowls, but the team has not found the same success since last winning the title during the 1995 season. Dallas hasn’t made it back to the big game since, nor have they made an NFC Championship appearance.

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Even winning 12 games three years in a row recently, Dallas still had yet to make it out of the divisional round. As fans turn up the scrutiny on Jones’ decision-making, the 82-year-old billionaire made clear he has no plans to give up the general manager role.

"No. Just, no," he said Sunday, via The Athletic. "I bought the team, I think the first thing to come out of my mouth… somebody asked, ‘Did you buy this for your kids?’ I said, ‘Hell no. I bought it for me.’ And I didn’t buy an investment. I bought an occupation, and I bought something I was going to do.

"I was 46 (years old). I bought something I was going to do for the rest of my life. That’s what I’m doing. So, no. The facts are, since I have to decide where the money is spent, then you might as well cut all of the bull---- out. That’s who’s making the call anyways."

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Jones has a list of crucial personnel decisions coming as the Cowboys enter the offseason.

Head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract is expiring with some hope he will be back at the helm in 2025. The team will also have to decide what to do with players like Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Brandin Cooks and Jourdan Lewis, who could hit free agency in March.

The team exercised its fifth-year option on pass rusher Micah Parsons, but he will definitely be looking for a new deal soon.

Dallas had an injury-riddled 2024 season and finished 7-10.

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The Dallas Cowboys’ decision regarding head coach Mike McCarthy may be speeding up after what the Chicago Bears did. 

The Bears have reportedly asked the Cowboys for permission to interview McCarthy for their head coach vacancy, and ESPN reported Jerry Jones has yet to respond. 

However, the Bears do not need the Cowboys' permission as they could interview the longtime NFL head coach after the exclusive negotiating window is up on Jan. 14. 

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McCarthy’s contract is set to expire with the Cowboys, but Jones has made it known that he is not going to just let the Super Bowl-winning coach just waltz into free agency. There is a chance that he could return, and players like Dak Prescott have been vocal about him remaining in place as well. 

However, the speed at which Jones and the Cowboys make their decision could be sped up now with the Bears, and possibly other teams, waiting to interview McCarthy for their own head coaching gigs. 

McCarthy has just finished his fifth season in Dallas, and after going 12-5 in each of the last three seasons, the Cowboys finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 – his first year as head coach. 

COWBOYS CHEERLEADER DRILLED IN HEAD BY KICKOFF MISHAP IN FINAL GAME OF SEASON

There were questions about McCarthy’s future with the organization before the 2024 regular season began, as players like Prescott and CeeDee Lamb received extensions, but the head coach’s future remained in limbo as he did not put pen to paper. 

Things were not looking good for McCarthy either, as the Cowboys were stagnant to start the year and then plummeted once Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in early November. 

However, it was clear toward the end of the year, as backup quarterback Cooper Rush got more comfortable in the starting role, that the Cowboys were not mailing it in, just waiting for the season to be over.

Dallas won four of its five games after snapping a four-game skid in early November, and despite a beatdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17, Dallas played hard until the end in Week 18, though the Washington Commanders had a game-winning touchdown with three seconds left to hand them their 10th loss of the season. 

NFL Network reported Jones and McCarthy were expected to meet Monday afternoon, though a contract offer was not mentioned. The report added that McCarthy wants to remain in Dallas if they would have him. 

"I don’t know that I am considering making a change is really what I’m trying to say," Jones told reporters about his coaching situation. 

Meanwhile, the Bears will be searching high and low for the right man to take over a team with loads of potential, but could not keep the ball rolling after starting the year 4-2. A Week 18 win over the Green Bay Packers snapped a 10-game losing streak to end the year on a high note, but Caleb Williams and company need to improve if they wish to compete in a loaded NFC North division. 

The Bears have already requested permission to interview several top candidates, including Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn, New York Giants OC Mike Kafka and Steelers OC Arthur Smith, among others. 

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The Dallas Cowboys-Washington Commanders Week 18 matchup was a thriller to the end, but not every play had the best execution. 

Just ask the Cowboys cheerleaders. 

Brandon Aubrey, Dallas’ trusty placekicker, was setting up for a kickoff, which is about routine as it comes for his position in the league. 

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But Aubrey’s attempt to kick the ball downfield went awry, as it was kicked immediately out of bounds to the left, and one Cowboys cheerleader was the unfortunate recipient of it.

After an NFL cameraman couldn’t catch the ball with one hand, it smacked a cheerleader in the back of the head, sending her to the ground in the surprise incident. 

Social media users suspect that Michelle Siemienowski, a first-year cheerleader with Dallas, was the one hit by the ball. 

COMMANDERS' JEREMY REAVES PROPOSES TO LONGTIME GIRLFRIEND AFTER WIN: 'THAT’S MY BEST FRIEND'

Luckily, she got back to her feet and appeared to be laughing about the situation after it happened. 

The rest of her cheer team made sure to check on her, as did Commanders punter Tress Way, who was in the area. 

Siemienowski made the cheer team in July, writing on Instagram that it was "my dream for as long as I can remember" to be a part of the famous squad. 

"This has been the most life changing experience, but this is only the beginning. I am so grateful to say that I achieved my dreams and earned my boots!"

Once the game resumed after the incident, the Cowboys found themselves looking to finish the season on a high note, but the Commanders had something else in mind. 

Marcus Mariota, who took over for Jayden Daniels at quarterback given the team’s playoff berth, knew that potential seeding was on the line when he got the ball with just over three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. 

Washington, down by three points, didn’t just think about a game-tying field goal as Mariota found himself with 2nd-and-goal from the Dallas 5-yard line, and he tossed a fade to Terry McLaurin on the outside. 

McLaurin leaped in the air and snagged the ball, keeping both feet in bounds to win the game on the final play from scrimmage. 

As a result, the Commanders finished the season 12-5, though the Philadelphia Eagles won the division with a 14-3 record. But the win earned them the No. 6 seed instead of the No. 7 seed, which would have to travel to Philadelphia to face those Eagles in the wild-card round.

Meanwhile, Dallas finishes the season 7-10.

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Burglaries involving athletes continue to rage on, and just the day before Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic’s home was broken into, the fianceé of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had things stolen from her car. 

Dallas-based WFAA obtained a Dallas Police Department report, which stated Sarah Ramos had close to $40,000 worth of items stolen from her vehicle. 

The incident occurred this past Thursday, when she admitted she "rushed inside" for a Pilates class due to inclement weather, leading her to forget to lock her car door. 

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After the class, Ramos returned to her vehicle to find several pieces of property taken, and she told police that she "was notified that her credit cards were being used at [another] location."

The items that were stolen the day after Christmas include designer wallets and handbags from Chanel, YSL, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada, per WFAA. Computer software and cash were also stolen. 

There have been recent reports of burglaries involving athletes, including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce with both of their homes burglarized last month. 

2024-25 NFL PLAYOFF ODDS: EVERY TEAM'S ODDS TO MAKE THE POSTSEASON

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow experienced the same thing, and Doncic had his home broken into on Friday through his back master bedroom, per WFAA. A necklace worth $4,000, earrings worth $14,000 and four rings worth $5,000 were reported stolen.

For the NFL, they quickly issued a league-wide memo warning of burglaries that were believed to be linked to an "organized" group. 

In the memo, obtained by the Associated Press, the league issued a security alert to teams and the NFL Players Association, warning that pro athletes in different sports were becoming "increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups."

At the time of the memo, NFL Network reported the FBI was investigating the crime spree, which they believed was "tied to a South American crime syndicate."

Law enforcement officials say the suspects conduct extensive surveillance on their targets’ homes and have even posed as groundskeepers or joggers. Some have even attempted home deliveries. 

The memo urged players to take special precautions, including installing home security systems. They were also encouraged not to post live updates of their comings and goings on social media or showcasing their expensive items online. 

Prescott’s engagement to Ramos was revealed in October, one month before he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons. 

The two share a daughter together, Margaret Jane Rose Prescott. 

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Three players in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday weren’t on the field to see the clock hit triple zeroes as the team in Kelly green wrapped up an NFC East title.

Eagles safety Sydney Brown and Cowboys cornerback Troy Pride Jr. and wide receiver Jalen Brooks were all ejected from the game after a Philadelphia punt with 2:32 left in the game.

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As the three players were in the end zone, Brooks and Brown started the skirmish. Then Pride got involved. Brown dragged Pride into the tunnel and tackled him down. It took a moment or two to get things under control.

NFL officials threw flags on the play and each of the three players involved was sent to the showers early.

Brown had one tackle in the game. Sunday’s game was the 10th time he’s appeared this season.

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Pride is in his first season with the Cowboys. It was the first time he saw action for Dallas. Brooks has split time between the offense and special teams. He has 11 catches on 29 targets for 165 yards and a touchdown this season.

The Eagles finished off their NFC East rival minutes later. Kenny Pickett was 10-of-15 with 143 passing yards and a touchdown pass, but he left the game with a rib injury. Tanner McKee came into the game and threw two touchdown passes.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards in a single season with his 167-yard game on 31 carries.

The Eagles moved to 13-3 on the season and the Cowboys fell to 7-9.

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The Philadelphia Eagles needed Tanner McKee to step into Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys as Kenny Pickett left with a rib injury.

The Eagles selected McKee in the sixth round of the 2023 draft out of Stanford. But he had never seen any action in a regular-season game. With Jalen Hurts already out and Pickett in the locker room, McKee took the reins and the team didn’t really miss a beat.

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McKee found star wide receiver A.J. Brown with 2:44 left in the third quarter for a 20-yard touchdown pass. It was the first touchdown pass of his career. But Brown made a major faux pas by throwing the football into the stands at Lincoln Financial Field. He didn’t realize it was McKee’s first touchdown pass until he got back to the sideline.

PATRIOTS FANS CHANT 'FIRE MAYO' AS TEAM SUFFERS BLOWOUT LOSS TO CHARGERS

Luckily, Eagles fans support their own and the team got the ball back.

McKee then hit DeVonta Smith for a 25-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The team went up 41-7 at the point. They won the game by the same score and clinched the NFC East title.

If Pickett is hurt next week, McKee may be in line to start in the season finale against the New York Giants. Philadelphia will likely sit its key players until the wild-card round of the playoffs begins.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett gave NFL fans a good laugh during the team’s game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

With the game tied at 7 apiece and about 12 minutes left in the first half, Pickett dropped back to throw the ball but didn’t release it. He stepped forward as if he was going to throw, but he held onto the football. He followed through as if he were passing, but the ball never left his hand.

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Pickett fell to the ground without being touched, and the ball came out of his hand. Luckily, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was there to recover the ball.

NFL fans immediately called it the worst play they have ever seen.

NFL INSIDER FLOATS AARON RODGERS, KIRK COUSINS AS POTENTIAL COMPETITORS FOR BROWNS' QB JOB IN 2025 

Pickett got the last laugh at the end of the first half. He threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith with 6:38 left in the half and then ran the ball into the end zone from the goal line as time expired in the half.

The backup had 133 passing yards in the first half. The Eagles led the Cowboys 24-7 at halftime.

Pickett was thrust into the starting role just before the Eagles’ penultimate game of the 2024 season against the Cowboys. Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the Washington Commanders and wasn’t fully healthy in time.

Philadelphia hopes to wrap up the NFC East with a win over the Cowboys. The Washington Commanders are right on their tail at 10-5.

The Eagles are 12-3 this season.

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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said it’s going to be tough for quarterback Jalen Hurts to play in the upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

"He’s still in the (concussion) protocol, it’s going to be tough for him to make it this week," Sirianni said to reporters during a press conference on Friday.

Hurts sustained a concussion in the first quarter of the Eagles' 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders this past Sunday.

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The star quarterback was scrambling on a second-and-20 when he hit his head on the ground while being tackled at the end of his 13-yard run. Hurts was evaluated on the sideline before eventually being taken to the locker room and ruled out with a concussion.

The game against the Cowboys will be the first game Hurts has missed this season.

Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown and interception in relief of Hurts. Pickett, like Hurts, was also on the Eagles' injury report this week with a rib injury.

However, Pickett said during a press conference on Thursday that he will be "ready to go" on Sunday.

EAGLES’ JALEN HURTS RULED OUT WITH A CONCUSSION IN FIRST QUARTER VS COMMANDERS

Sirianni said he liked what Pickett did in practice this week.

"I think (Pickett) has had a nice week of practice; he’s done a nice job. And you know, have had some good practices and walk-throughs this week," he said.

Philadelphia acquired Pickett from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March to back up Hurts. Now, the team's seed in the playoffs lies in his hands. 

The Eagles still have an outside chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC as they are currently 12-3, but both the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings are 13-2. Philadelphia would need some help to grab the top spot and the all-important bye week in the Wild Card round. 

While the Eagles may be eyeing the No. 1 seed, the NFC East is still up for grabs after their loss to the Commanders on Sunday. 

If the Eagles were to lose their next two games and the Commanders to win their next two, the NFC East would be decided based off tiebreakers. 

The Eagles’ last two games are at home, as they play the Cowboys at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday and then the lowly New York Giants in Week 18.

The Commanders face a tougher schedule over the last two weeks of the regular season. They play the Atlanta Falcons, who are fighting for their playoff lives, at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, and then the Cowboys in Week 18. 

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Saquon Barkley needs 268 yards rushing his final two games to become the NFL's new single-season rushing champion, and the current record holder is hoping Barkley misses the mark.

Barkley has proven to be the best signing of the offseason after the Philadelphia Eagles inked him to a three-year deal after six seasons with the division rival New York Giants.

Barkley has put himself in the league MVP conversation, averaging 122.5 rushing yards per game and taking the Birds to another level.

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Barkley would need to average 134 yards per game the last two weeks to break the record, a number he has notched six times this season already.

Eric Dickerson set the record of 2,105 yards in 1984, and the Los Angeles Rams legend admits he wants to remain the king.

2024 NFL ODDS: WILL SAQUON BARKLEY BEST SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING RECORD?

"I don't think he'll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not,"  Dickerson told the Los Angeles Times this week. "I don't pull no punches on that."

Dickerson set the record in 16 games, so Barkley has one extra contest to break the record. Dickerson doesn't mind that too much.

"I'm not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That's the way I look at it. If he's fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it's a great record to have," he continued.

Barkley's mostly likely chance to break the record will come against his former team, which Dickerson said would be "a true slap in the face."

Barkley is on pace to become the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The other eight all did it in 16-game seasons, including the most recent, Derrick Henry, four years ago.

CeeDee Lamb won’t be finishing the season with the Dallas Cowboys. The team announced he has been shut down due to a shoulder injury. 

The team revealed the move Thursday, saying Lamb would not be available for the final two games to start the recovery process for a shoulder injury he’s been dealing with throughout the season.

"Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb’s shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out.’

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"He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery."

Lamb was diagnosed with an AC joint strain in Week 9, but he played through it as Dallas continued to try to keep its playoff hopes alive. 

Despite Dallas picking up a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention. 

COWBOYS OWNER JERRY JONES LOBBIES FOR NFL CHRISTMAS DAY GAMES TO CONTINUE ON ANNUAL BASIS

So, with no playoffs in sight, the Cowboys want to make sure Lamb doesn’t injure himself further and start the process with a full recovery in mind for 2025. 

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed Lamb’s situation on 105.3 the Fan Tuesday.

"We will leave it up to the player," Jones said. It’s unknown what say Lamb had in this decision to be shut down for the rest of the year. 

Lamb has discussed his injury this week, saying "my shoulder is out of whack" after beating the Bucs, 26-24. 

"I’m just out there battling and doing what I gotta do," Lamb said. 

Lamb, who the Cowboys signed to a contract extension in the offseason, had his fourth straight season with 1,110 or more yards after hauling in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards with six touchdowns in 15 games.

Lamb didn’t have Dak Prescott throwing to him all season because the franchise quarterback, who also received a contract extension in the offseason, sustained his own season-ending injury earlier this season against the Atlanta Falcons. 

However, Lamb found some chemistry with Cooper Rush, Prescott’s backup, who took over as starter. The Cowboys won four of their last five games, but, at 7-8 with two games remaining, it isn’t enough to crack into the NFC playoff picture. 

Lamb will continue on his rehab to get ready for 2025, when the Cowboys hope to see a different outcome.

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When you’re winning, everything feels great as you head back to the locker room after the game. 

But, for Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, every win to finish off the regular season could mean a contract extension. And a warm embrace with owner Jerry Jones has football fans wondering if that’s on the horizon. 

McCarthy and Jones were spotted giving each other a big hug after the Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 26-24, on "Sunday Night Football."

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There were big smiles as they embraced, but Jones also seemed to get serious when talking with McCarthy, though the microphones couldn’t pick up what he was saying. From the looks of things, it was one of those good, serious conversations as the Cowboys moved to 7-8 on the year. 

Now, the reality of this season is the Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention, which isn’t something Jones or anyone in the organization expected to see by the end of Week 17. 

However, McCarthy has rejuvenated what was once a team deflated at 3-7 after losing to the Houston Texans on Nov. 18.

COWBOYS MAKE CLUTCH DEFENSIVE PLAYS TO STYMIE BUCS, PULL OFF WIN

Dallas has won four of its last five games, doing so without franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, whose hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 3 required surgery to repair, ending his 2024 campaign prematurely. 

Jones has loved what he’s seen from his owner’s box in recent weeks.

"Those guys came out and played as though they were fighting in the championship game to go to the Super Bowl," Jones said after the win, per Yahoo Sports. "I can’t tell you how proud I am of them and the coaching staff. It really shows me something."

During his media availability, McCarthy spoke about that locker room he was just in, and how he feels his group is still playing like it’s the last play of the season, even if playoffs are not in the picture. 

"I just think that shows you who they are," McCarthy explained. "I think everybody says the coach is always talking highly of the locker room – well, this is what I’m talking about. When I talk about, ‘It’s a great locker room,’ this is the definition of it. This is what a great locker room looks like."

Quite the turnaround for McCarthy, who appeared to be all but out the door as the Cowboys kept moving closer to a top draft pick rather than a playoff spot. But despite the tribulations of 2024, McCarthy has gotten the stamp of approval from Prescott and others regarding a contract extension. 

Jones himself even commented on McCarthy’s contract status recently, saying near Thanksgiving that he didn’t feel extending him would be "crazy at all." After all, McCarthy has gone 12-5 in each of the last three seasons before this one, which could still be a year above .500. 

Two more weeks remain on McCarthy’s current deal, and if Dallas finishes strong against the NFC East’s two likely playoff teams – the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders – perhaps he will continue to lead "America’s Team" into the future. 

As the saying goes, end the year on a high note. McCarthy has his 'Boys playing accordingly.

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The Dallas Cowboys threw a wrench into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South division title hopes on Sunday thanks to clutch plays from the defense when it mattered the most.

Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in its tracks. In the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield was intercepted in the end zone by Jourdan Lewis. Then, as the Buccaneers tried to final some last-minute gusto, saw running back Rachaad White get stripped by DaRon Bland.

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The two fourth quarter turnovers helped Dallas solidify a 26-24 win.

Cooper Rush was 26-of-35 with 292 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 105 yards. But the story of the game was the defense.

Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with the interception and White’s fumble. He had 304 passing yards and two touchdown passes but struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

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Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson and Linval Joseph each had a sack.

The Cowboys were only held to three points in the second half but did enough to crush Tampa Bay’s hopes when it mattered the most.

Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention before the game started but they were determined enough to make it more difficult for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South.

The Buccaneers fell to 8-7 and are behind the Falcons despite having the same record. Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay twice this season.

With two games left in the regular season, the Buccaneers have the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints left on the schedule.

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Longtime Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones often finds himself in front of a microphone. The billionaire typically does not shy away from sharing his thoughts on the football team he owns, but at times he will delve into other subjects.

Jones' latest routine appearance on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan turned out to be rather unusual. At one point during the discussion, Jones revealed he enjoys consuming raccoons and squirrels.

Carolina Panthers rookie Xavier Legette's name seemed to be used as the launching point for the conversation about cuisine preferences. Jones then brought up his past experiences with the aforementioned raccoons and squirrels.

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Legette previously mentioned that he's consumed raccoons in the past during an appearance earlier this month on the "St. Brown Podcast."

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"I've eaten a lot of raccoon," Jones said seemingly in a nod to Legette's dietary preferences. "Yes, the answer is yes. I've eaten it hunting, and I've actually had it served by my mom at the table away from hunting. ... It's not uncommon at all."

Jones also recalled times when squirrels would spark family conversations about who would be able to eat certain parts of the animal.

"One of my favorites is squirrel," Jones continued. "It's wonderful, and my mother could do a great job of [preparing] it. We all had our favorite pieces. ... My mom and I would even ask for the brain in a squirrel. Delicious. Seriously."

The Cowboys enter Week 16 with a 6-8 record. Dallas hosts the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 22.

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Archie Manning made waves when he said he revealed his preferred NFL landing spot for his grandson, Texas star Arch Manning. 

"I hope he’ll play three years in Texas; I hope he will play three more years," Manning said when asked about his grandson. 

When asked about where he wants Arch to play in the NFL, Archie gave an unexpected answer.  

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"It’s funny, nobody’s ever asked me that. Right off the bat if somebody asked me, I’d say Cowboys," Archie said in a video posted to TikTok last week.

However, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback walked back his comments about wanting Arch to play for the Cowboys on Wednesday after causing a stir on social media. 

"That is something that kind of got out of hand, and I have a sports bar in New Orleans, and I was just being nice to a patron. I told him I hoped Arch would play three years of college football, and he said ‘and then maybe to the Cowboys?’ I said that’d be fine with me. I didn’t know that he was going to put that on TikTok or whatever that, I don’t what TikTok is. I didn’t know it was go viral as they say," Archie told Sports Illustrated on Wednesday.

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Archie’s answer came as a surprise as Eli, his son, spent his entire career with the New York Giants, one of the Cowboys’ biggest rivals. 

Additionally, the Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to a four-year, $240 million contract extension that keeps Prescott under team control through 2028. So, even if Archie got his wish, it would seem unlikely that Arch would start right away for Dallas. 

Arch stepped in and started three games this season when Quinn Ewers got hurt and missed time with an oblique injury. 

In addition to those three starts, Manning has appeared in seven games this season for Texas. He has completed 67.8% of his passes while throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns to two interceptions.

Manning has also shown an ability to run, rushing for 100 yards and four touchdowns this season. Even since Ewers has returned, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will substitute in Manning for a couple of plays that involve the quarterback running. 

Manning is not eligible for the NFL Draft until 2026, but the talent he has shown in limited action has fans clamoring for Manning to quarterback their favorite team. 

The next time fans might see Manning on the field is when the Longhorns play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs on Dec. 21. 

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New Cincinnati Bengals kicker Cade York made headlines before his debut with the team on Monday, when he revealed that his girlfriend, Zoe Dale, was a cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys. 

York, who took the place of an injured Evan McPherson, told reporters Friday that despite her allegiance to the Cowboys, Dale would be cheering for him. 

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That is exactly what she did when he made his first extra point attempt at AT&T Stadium on Monday night.

Late in the first quarter, York lined up for his first extra point of the game that would tie the score at 7-7. With a successful kick, ESPN’s broadcast captured Dale’s heartwarming reaction. 

"Praise God," she said with a big smile. 

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York, 23, said last week that he got the call from the Bengals a day after his girlfriend was baptized. 

"I was like ‘Well, Zoe, I will see you at home no matter what.’ So yeah, it’s pretty cool." 

York was 2-2 on field goals and 3-3 on extra kicks.

A botched blocked punt gave the ball back to the Bengals late in the fourth quarter, and Joe Burrow’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase gave the Bengals a much-needed win over the Cowboys after losing three straight. 

"We needed a break," Burrow said after the game. "We haven’t got many this year, but it was nice to get that one and nice to come out of this with a win."

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The Cincinnati Bengals have had some crushing defeats this season, but something finally went their way to cash a 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football."

The Bengals snapped a three-game losing streak, moving to 5-8 on the season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ win streak of two games comes to a halt and they are also 5-8 on the year. 

At the two-minute warning, the Bengals were in their own zone after a potential game-winning drive went awry. Facing fourth-and-27, they had no choice but to punt, and things got much worse when Cal Adomitis blocked the punt which should’ve given the Cowboys perfect field position to take the lead late in the game. 

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Then, that big Bengals break came for Zac Taylor’s squad. 

Amani Oruwariye thought it was smart to try and recover the bouncing ball as it was making its way downfield, but he was unable to field it cleanly. 

Since it touched Oruwariye, the Bengals could recover and regain possession, and that’s exactly what happened as Maema Njongmeta fell on the ball at the Cincinnati 43-yard line to give Joe Burrow and his crew another shot at taking the lead. 

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Just three plays later, Burrow found ol’ reliable, Ja’Marr Chase, on a short pass where he made a Cowboys' cornerback miss, and he was off to the races for a 40-yard touchdown to make it 27-20 after the extra point. 

That capped another "Monday Night Football" highlight reel for Chase, who finished the game with 177 yards on 14 catches with two touchdowns, which also included the first for the Bengals on the night. 

Cooper Rush and the Cowboys did have enough time to move downfield for a potential game-tying drive. But on fourth-and-7 near midfield, Rush overshot Jake Ferguson and the ball hit the turf, sealing Dallas’ fate as a loss. 

CeeDee Lamb, who scored the game’s first touchdown and had 93 yards on six catches, was jumping up and down because he was wide open in the middle of the field. Rush didn’t see him, and thus the result. 

Burrow’s night was another spectacular one, as he went 33-for-44 for 369 yards with three touchdowns – the other a catch-and-run by running back Chase Brown in the first half – as well as an interception.

For the Cowboys, a positive trend continued for Rico Dowdle despite the loss, as the young running back rushed for a game-high 131 yards on just 18 carries. Since taking over the lead role in the backfield, Dowdle has really turned it on late in the season. 

Both of these teams might not be in playoff position with four games remaining, but a primetime thriller was seen at AT&T Stadium where the Bengals finally tasted victory again. 

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The new Cincinnati Bengals kicker will be sharing the sideline with his girlfriend this upcoming Monday night. 

Cade York was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday after veteran Evan McPherson was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury. York, who played alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase at LSU when the Tigers won the national championship in 2019, will make his debut for the team on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. 

However, there is another familiar face he will share the field with. 

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"My girlfriend is actually a cheerleader for the Cowboys," York told reporters in the locker room on Thursday. 

"She got baptized this Sunday. So it was awesome getting to do that, and all her teammates got to come watch and, literally, the next day I get a call that I’m going to work out for the Bengals, and they’re playing on Monday. 

"I was like ‘Well, Zoe, I will see you at home no matter what.’ So yeah, it’s pretty cool." 

According to her Instagram, Zoe Dale has been a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader since July 2023. 

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"I am so unbelievably humbled to announce that I am a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader," she wrote in a post at the time. "Thank you to everyone who has helped, encouraged, and supported me during this journey. I am blessed to be a part of such a prestigious organization that withholds such iconic history.

"Without the support of my family, friends, and the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this by myself. I am ever so grateful for what God has provided and the women he has brought into my life. Thank you for the countless prayers, thoughts, and love during this process."

York, who last played this season for the Washington Commanders in Week 1, said despite her allegiance to the Cowboys organization, "She’s gonna be cheering for me." 

"She’s already told me second quarter and fourth quarter is when she’s on the visitor side. I’ll have to sneak her a couple of smiles," York added with a smile.  

York, 23, was traded to the Commanders in August but cut after missing two field goals in Washington’s season opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

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